Oliver covered both pro- and anti-surveillance Republicans, noting how their stances on the NSA's collection of phone records and electronic communications often doesn't square up with other views on civil liberties.

Oliver broke down the two sides into "Team Everybody Clam Down" and "Team Everybody Freak Out."

The first team was led by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who asserted that the U.S. wouldn't be having this conversation on Sept. 12, 2001.

"The standard for what constitutes the best decision can not be, 'What decision would we make on our most vulnerable and panicked day,'" Oliver said.